Humidity control for pressing machines



Sept. 29, 1942. E. DAVIS x 2,296,910

HUMIDITY CONTROL FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l FlG.l

INVENTOR.

ERNEST DAVIS Sept. 29, 1942. E. DAVIS HUMIDITY CONTROL FOR PRESSING MACHINES 2 sneet-sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1941 [NV EN TOR.

ERNEST DAVIS .4 TTORNl-TYS.

Patented 29,

2.20am a mnnnrrr oou'raor. roa raussmo Iscnnms Ernest Dash, Syracuse, N. Y., asslgnor to The Prosperity Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a

eerporatlonof ewiork Am July I, 1941, Serial No. 401,227

.llOla-Irm.

This invention relates to machines. as garment and laundry machines, where the fabric or articles are pressed while damp, and has for its object a particularly simple and see-- nomical means for automatically opening the presswhenthefahricorarticlehasbeendriedto a predetermined dryness in order to prevent baking, scorching, etc. of the fabric or garment, which means is controlled by the amount of moisture expelled from the fabric or article by the heat of the pressing operation or by the conversion of the moisture into steam primarily under the movement of steam itself under its own expansion when passing or escaping through a confined outlet.

The invention further consists in a temperature responsive element exposed to a confined outlet passage for the steam generated by the heat of the pressing elements from the moisture in the fabric or article, while the steanris passing under its own natural pressure out oi the chamber in one of the pressing elements into which it passes from the fabric or article, together with means for translating the motion or action of the temperature responsive element to a control member which eil'ects the opening of the press whenthe garmentisdrledtoa It further hasior its object a switch in an electric circuit having an electro-responsive device therein for operating and holding the control for the opening of the press, which switch is closed by the temperature responsive element under the action of the steam and opened in the absence of steam, or when the amount of steam generated from the moisture in the garment drops to a predetermined amount.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and hereinaiter set forth and claimed..

In describing this invention, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings'in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figural lsaticviewofthishumidity control, the contiguous portions of the pressing element of the of the actuating mechanism. and an operator control for the actuating and the release mechanism being also shown.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a pressing machine this invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation, partly broken machineaportton away.

Iigureiisafragmsntaryelevatienoftheup-ti per and lower pressing elements with the upper element or head closed on the moist work-piece on the lower element and contiguous parts of the humidity control.

The invention is here shown as applied to a laundry pressing machine, in which the work is brought ,to the machine wet or damp. The pressing machine may be of any suitable form, also and" construction and-includes generally, relatively movable, cooperative pressing elements having an opening and closing movement, and operator controlled actuating mechanism for efi'ecting such movement.

The numeral l designates a lower pressing element or buck suitably mounted on a frame 2 and 8 designates the movable pressing element or head having an opening and closing movement relatively to the buck I. The head is carried by a head-carrying lever l pivoted between its ends at 5 to an upstanding bracket or arm 8 on the frame. The actuating m may also be of any suitable construction. That here illustrating includes generally, a pressure-operated motor, as a cylinder I having a piston I movable therein, the piston having its rod I connected through suitable motion transmitting mechanism at ill to the realarm of the headcarrying lever I. The cylinder 1 is pivoted at H to the frame to have an oscillating movement.

The flow of motive fluid, as compressed air. to the cylinder is preferably controlled by a twohand control, or a control requiring both hands of the operator. i2 and II designate. generally.

the two hand controls. The control it includesto act as a unit. A spring it normally holds the.

valve intake head closed and the exhaust valve head open. The casing II is connected to a supply for compressed air through a pipe is. The combined intake and exhaust valve is operated by a suitable manual, as a push button 20. The other control it consists of a normally open, manually operated exhaust valve. Ii designates the exhaust valve casing; 22 the exhaust valve member or head operated to closed position by a push button It. The casing ll ofthe control iiisconnectedbyaplpe to theintakeportoi' thscyiinder'l. Thepipe Itisconnectedbya pipe 2| to exhaust valve casing Ii. Obviously. inorderthatair maypasstothecylindsnboth pushbuttons II and Itmustbedepressed. The motion of the pushbutton 2! is transfcrredto the valve member ll through suitable spring retracted levers ll, 21 and likewise the motion of thepushbutton 28 is transi'erredtothe exhaust valve head 2! through levers ".19. The two hand control mechanism per se forms no p oi this invention.

whenthepressisclosemthevalvesiland 2Iarelockedintheiroperatedpositions,asby pressure-operated motors, as diaphragm II. .II in diaphragm chambers II, a associamd with each oi the valve casings ll, ii, the acting throiuh the levers 21. II to hold the valves in the casing I4 and Ii in their operated positions. The pressure sides of the diaphragm chambersareconnectedtoaportllintheside wall 01' the cylinder 1 by a pipe II having branches 3', 31 leading to the pressure sides of the diaphragm chambers II, 33. The port It is located to be passed bythe piston I when the piston has passed far enough on the power stroke to bring the head I close to the buck I. Ordinarily to open the press, a normally closed, manually iwrable release valve 3| is connected to the pipe II or one of the branches, as the branch I! thereoi'.

Hence when this release valve is opened, air is exhausted from the diaphragm chambers II, II permitting the control valve members II and I! to be returned to their normal positions by their springs, and hence permitting air to exhaust from the cylinder through the pipe 24 out throu h the combined intake and exhaust valve casing II. The press then opens, usually under the action 01' counter-springs. In so far as this invention is concerned, the manual release is of no consequence. This invention relates to an automatic control performing the functional a release valve, the control being a valve, as the power is compressed air.

ll designates the automatic release, this, in the illustrated embodiment oi the invention, being a valve including a casing having a normally open exhaust valve 42 therein, it being closed by a spring 43 and normally held open against the spring by means which is disabled by the steam generated from the moisture in the article being pressed and remains disabled until the article is dry when it is again operated to open the valve l2 against the spring is and eiiect the opening of the press.

The lower pressing element i on which the dampened garment is laid, is usually covered with a pervious or perforated cloth padding ll, while i the pressing face of the head I is usually smooth or polished. The head 3 is also heated, it being usually formed with a steam heating chamber and also preferably the lower pressing element is steam heated. The steam for heating is supplied in any well-known manner. One of these elements, preierably the lower pressing element, is-iormed with a chamber I! for receiving the steam generated from the moisture in the damp work when the press is closed, this being formed on the upper side thereof beneath the padding 44 and covered by a luminous or perforated plate 48. A sprin padding I1 is located between the cloth padding I4 and the plate 46. A wrapper it covers the padding M. The assembly is such that when the press is closed, the only outlet for v generated from the moisture in the work, is into the chamber 4!. The chamber 45 is alsoiormed with an open outlet ll, this being it! when the heated head I closes down onto the damp work w, it converts the moisture in the minimum oisteamthroughtheoutletll under its natural pressure. when there to beam steam or steam pressure, the outside air illls into the chamber through the outlet It.

The means for controlling the closing of the automatic release valve ll or the movable member 42 thereof, comprises a temperature responsive element II having a portionexposed to the outlet ll, this being mounted on a suitable bracket Ii on the support for the buck i. The motion or warping action or the thermostatic element under the heating action of the steam is translated to the valve It to close it and hold it closed as long as there is a predetermined amount of steam or steam through the outlet ll. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the release valve ll is opened against the action of its spring I by an electro-responsive device, solenoid or magnet I2, the core of which is connected to the valve head It. The windings oi the magnet is are connected in legs El, ll oi. an electric circuit having a switch 55 therein the switch being normally closed and operated to open position by the action of the temperature responsive element Iii. As here shown, the switch is a tilting mercury switch. The switch is normally closed, and hence the valve head 42 open. when steam generated from the garment p through the outlet ll, the switch opens, thus deenergizing the magnet SI and permitting the control valve head 42 to close and hence hold the press closed. when under the heating action oi the pressing elements, the garment or tab-- ric is dried so that appreciably no steam is generated, the temperature responsive element reacts or cools causing the thermostat to close the switch ii and the circuit through the magnet 52, and hence cause the magnet to open the control valve head 42, and pennit the air to exhaust from the diaphragm chambers 12. 33 back through the pipes ll, II and pipe II which is connected to the pipe I. out through the now open exhaust valve II. The control valve 4i thus automatically performs the function of the manual release valve 30. In order to keep the steam in motion through the outlet or keep it from lasing or lagging, a gentle injected jet of air commences to blow down through the outlet I! immediately upon the closing of the press, through a pipe ll, this having a suitable regulatingorneedlevalvetli therein. 'Ihepipellis connected to air pipe 2 controlled by the manunis III, II, the pipe terminating in an ejector male directed toward the discharge end of the outlet. Immediately upon the closing of the press. the air commences to blow to keep the 'In operation, alter thedamp garment has been laid on the pressing element I, the operator depresses both push buttons 20, 23 and. when the press closes, the steam immediately generates. Usually on the first one or two closing operations, the operator holds the push buttons 20, 23 depressed a short interval after the press closes, until the thermostatic coil becomes warm. Thereafter, the operator merely holds the push buttons 20, 23 depressed until the press closes, as the steam generated from the moisture in the garment immediately becomes effective to heat the thermostat, de-energizing the magnet 52 to permit the exhaust valve head 42 to close under the action of its spring 43. When the moisture is extracted from the garment, so that little or no steam is being generated, the thermostatic coil cools or re-acts again closing the circuit to the magnet 52, causing the magnet to open the valve head 42 against the spring 43 and hence the exhaust of air from the cylinder I and the automatic opening of the press when the work-piece is dried.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for pressing damp fabrics, the combination of relatively movable, cooperative pressing elements having a closing and opening movement, and actuating means for effecting such movement, at least one of said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed with a chamber located to receive steam generated from the moisture in the garment by the heating action of the heated pressing element, the chamber having an outlet through which the steam passes under its own pressure only, and means operable by the steam passing through the outlet for holding the press closed and releasabie to open the press by the absence of appreciable steam in the outlet due to the drying of said garment.

2. In a ,machine for pressing damp fabrics, the combination of relatively movable, coopera-. tive pressing elements having a closing and opening movement, and actuating means for effecting such movement, at least one of said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed with a chamber located to receive steam generated from the moisture in the garment by the heating action of the heated pressing element, the chamber having an outlet through which the steam passes under its own pressure, and means controlled by the steam in the chamber for holding the press closed and releasable to open the press by the absence of an appreciable amount of steam in the chamber, the last means including a temperature responsive element exposed to the steam in the outlet, a control for the holding means, and means operated by the temperature responsive element for operating the control to release the holding means when the steam generated from the moisture in the garment drops to a predetermined point.

3. In a machine for pressing damp fabrics, the combination of relatively movable, cooperative pressing elements having a closing and opening movement, and actuating means for eflecting such movement, at least one 01' said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed with a chamber located to receive steam generated from the moisture in the garment by the heating action of the heated pressing element, the chamber having an outlet through which the steam passes under its own pressure, means controlled by the steam in the outlet for holding the press closed and releasable to open the press by the absence of steam in the outlet chamber, the last means including a temperature responsive element exposed to the steam in the outlet, a control for the holding means, means operated by the temperature responsive element for operating the control to release the holding means when the steam generated from the moisture in the garment drops to a predetermined point, and means for facilitating the passing of the steam through the outlet at least at the end of each steam generating operation.

4. In a machine for pressing damp fabrics, the combination of relatively movable, cooperating pressing elements having an opening and closing movement, at least one of said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed with a chamber located to receive steam generated from the moisture in the damp garment by the heating actionof the heated pressing element, mechanism for effecting the closing movement and releasable means for holding the press closed, a control for the holding means, and means operated by the flow of the steam from the chamber under its natural pressure only for holding the control member in its position assumed when holding the press closed, and releasable by the absence of steam in the chamher.

5. In a machine for pressing damp fabrics, the combination of relatively movable, cooperating pressing elements having an opening and closing movement, at least one of said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed 'with a chamber in which steam is generated from the moisture in the damp garment by the heating action of the heated pressing element, mechanism for effecting the closing movement and releasalble means for holding the press closed, a control member for releasing the holding means, means operated by the steam from the chamber for holding the control member in its position assumed when the press is closed, and releasable by the absence of steam in the chamber, the generator chamber having an outlet through which the steam passes under the pressure generated by the action of the heat on the moisture of the garment, the last means comprising. a temperature responsive element extending into the outlet, and motion transmitting means operated thereby to hold the control member in holding position under the influence of the heat of the steam and to release the control when no steam is present in the generator chamber.

vii. In a machine for pressing damp fabric, the combination of relatively movable, cooperative pressing elements having an opening and closing movement, actuating mechanism for effecting the opening and closing movement, and releasable means operable to hold the press closed, a control for the holding means normally in a position to hold the holding means in released position, at least one of said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed with a chamber located to receive the steam generated from the moisture in the damp garment by the heating action of the heated pressing element, the chamber having an open outlet through which the steam passes under its own pressure, a temperature responsive element exposed to the action of the steam in the outlet, an electro-responsi've device connected to the control to hold the control member in released position, a circuit therefor, a normally closed switch in the circuit, and connections operated by the temperature responsive element under the action of the steam to open the switch when the steam is passing through the outlet and to close the switch in the absence of steam in the outlet and thereby eflect the releasing operation or the control member to open the press when the fabric is dried.

7. In a machine for pressing damp fabric, the combination of relatively movable, cooperative elements having an opening and closing movement, actuating mechanism for effecting the opening and closing movement. and releasable means operable to hold the press closed, a control for the holding means normally in a .position to hold the holding means in released position, at least one of said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed with a chamber located to receive the steam generated from the moisture in the damp garment by the heating action of the heated pressing element, the chamber having an open outlet through which the steam passes under its own pressure, a temperature responsive element exposed to the action of the steam in the outlet, an electro-responsive device connected to the control to hold the control member in released position, a circuit therefor, a normally closed switch in the circuit, and connections operated by the temperature responsive element under the action of the steam to open the switch when the steam is passing through the outlet and to close the switch in the absence of steam in the outlet and thereby effect the releasing operation of the control member to open the press when the fabric is dried, and means for facilitating the passing of the steam through the outlet at the end of each steam gencrating operation.

8. In a machine for pressing damp fabrics, the combination of relatively movable, cooperating pressing elements having an opening and closing movement, at least one of said elements being heated, and one of said elements being formed with a chamber in which steam is generated from the moisture in the damp garment by the heating action of the heated pressing element, mechanism for effecting the closing movement and releasable means for holding the press closed, a member for releasing the holding means, means operated by the steam from the chamber for holding the control member in its position assumed when the press is closed, and releasable by the absence of steam in the chamber, the chamber having an outlet through which the steam passes under the pressure generated by the action of the heat on the moisture of the garment, the last means comprisin a temperature responsive element extending into the outlet, and motion transmitting means operated thereby to hold the control member in holding positionunder the influence of the heat of the steam and to release the control when no steam is present in the generator chamber, and means rendered operative by the closing of the press to facilitate the movement of the steam through the outlet.

9. In a machine for pressing damp fabrics, the combination or relatively movable, cooperating pressing elements having an opening and closing movement, at least one or said elements being heated, and one 01' said elements being formed with a chamber in which steam is generated from the moisture in the damp garment by the heating action 01' theheated pressing element, mechanism for efiecting the closing movement and releasable means for holding the press closed, a member for releasing the holding means, means operated by the steam from the chamber for holding the control member in its position assumed when the press is closed, and releasable by the absence of steam in the chamber, the chamber having an outlet through which the steam passes under the pressure generated by the action of the heat on the moisture of the garment, the last means comprising a temperature responsive element extending into the outlet, motion transmitting means operated thereby to hold the control member in holding position under the influence of the heat of the steam and to release the control when no steam is present in the generator chamber, an air conduit having a nozzle in the outlet directed toward the dischar e end of the outlet, and means operated by the closing movement of the press to control the flow of air through the conduit when the press is closed.

10. In a machine for pressing damp fabric, the combination of relatively movable, cooperative pressing elements having an opening and closing movement, actuating mechanism for eflecting the opening and closing movement. and releasable means operable to hold the press closed, a centre for the holding means normally in a position it hold the holding means in released position, a least one of said elements being heated, and on of said elements being formed with a chambr located to receive the steam generated from ti moisture in the damp garment by the heatir action of the heated pressing element, the chair. her having an open outlet through which t steam passes under its own pressure, a temperature responsive element exposed to the action of the steam in the outlet, an electro-responsive device connected to the control to hold the control member in released posit-ion, a circuit therefor, a normally closed switch in the circuit, and connections operated by the temperature responsive element under the action of the steam to open the switch when the steam is passing through the outlet and to close the switch in the absence of steam in the outlet and thereby effect the rcleasing operation of the control member to open the press when the fabric is dried, and means for efiecting a quick cooling oi the temperature re- ".sponsive element and facilitating the movement CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,296,910. September 29, 19L 2.

ERNEST DAVIS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 14.6, for "thermostat" 'read -temperature responsive element--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 214th day of November, A. D. 1912.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

